RWBY: Restart

When the world was destroyed and all that he had ever known was taken from him. One man will unknowingly return to the past and prepare it for the future...just not the way he expected.

Chapter XV: Dance the Night Away

Blood leaked from Jaune's lips as the small blotches dripped onto the burnt and ash-covered earth. His breath was heavy and choked as every gasp of air brought him unending agony. His body ached, his bones creaked, and his fingers shook as he held the weapon of his honorary sister. The Grenade Launcher/Hammer itself was dented and scraped, with the dust chamber almost completely busted.

The old war hammer was on its last legs and would not survive one last explosion. Yet somehow, Jaune had a feeling that Nora would want it to go out with a bang.

He had been fighting for three days now, three days of constantly fighting against the King of Grimm, three days with little rest and barely enough time to catch his breath. How he was still moving right now was a miracle in itself.

He leaned back upon the rubble and stone as he held Magnhild, the cool surface of the metal felt like bliss on his fingers while holding on to the battered weapon. If Nora were alive, she probably would've said something to pick his spirits back up. To remind him why he was fighting this seemingly hopeless war…

But she was gone. She like everyone else in his life was just gone…and how he wished he could be with them.

He closed his eyes as wished he could see them again and hear their voices just one more time…

"…Man, that's one big Grimm, Fearless Leader."

He turned his head to the familiar voice as Nora peeked over the edge of the boulder. "I mean we've seen some big Grimm before, but man, that is one big Grimm! Kind of making me a bit jealous," she turned and smiled as he stared in confusion at the slightly older version of his departed honorary sister.

"N-Nora? Is that you? Are you…" he stopped and shook his head, "…No…you're not real, you're dead, you're just a figment of my imagination, aren't you?" The orange girl puffed her cheeks as she held her hands on her hips.

"And why can't I be a here, oh fearless leader? After all the things we've seen. The magic, the monsters, the giant blue naked lady and freaky God stuff why can't I be a ghost? Isn't it possible that I came back from the afterlife to talk with our best friend and surrogate brother? I mean isn't there a slight possibility that-"

"Because the real Nora was afraid of Ghosts."

Nora blinked a little before looking down at herself and then back up.

"…AHHHHHHH!" she screamed with her hands on her head as she ran around in circles. "AH! AH! AHHHHHHHHHHHH! GHOST! I'M SCARED OF GHOSTS! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Nora… you're not a ghost, you're a figment of my imagination. Nothing more." she stopped as she chuckled nervously.

"Oh yeah…hey wait a minute! I am too real! I'm not some figment of your imagination, Jauney! I'm too awesome to be an imagination! Beware my awesome ghostly power-AHHHHHH! I JUST REMEMBERED I'M A GHOST!"

Jaune laughed before he grunted in pain.

"Argh, don't make me laugh. Please. My insides are pretty messed up right now. Ow, that hurts." She stopped before sitting down next to the man and looked at his bloodied and broken body.

"…You've been through a lot, haven't you?" he nodded as he held the war hammer in his hands.

"Yeah, I did a lot of things after you guys…left. Maybe even too much…But I have to kill him, Nora. I have to stop the Grimm King before I die before the last speck of humanity is gone from this world. But I just…I just want this to end. I want this whole thing to end…I can't keep doing this...I-I can't take it anymore…" He looked up to the blood-red sky as it reminded him of the battle in the Grimm Lands, in the final days of the Resistance Army.

The Day the Witch of the Old World came to a bloody end, and the day humanity had lost its final test.

Nora clasped her hands in his as, in his deprived mental state, he felt the familiar warmth of his long-departed friend and she smiled at him.

"I know you do Jauney, and we're all waiting for you, even if you don't believe I'm not here. But the reason I'm here is to tell you that what happened to us was not your fault. There was no way you could've prevented our deaths, and that you need to let go of that guilt in your heart. I loved being with you guys, being led by you, being a part of the same team and just being your friend was the best parts of my life." she smiled softly at him.

"I know there's no stopping what you're doing…but please, don't let our deaths continue to consume you. Don't let the last moments of your life be that of regret. Please?" Jaune said nothing as he looked off to the side, as the Grimm Kings Serpent-like shape towered over the land while blasting the earth with dark lightning, searching for the last light of humanity.

"…Is she there, Nora. Is she waiting for me?"

The Ghostly image of Pyrrha watched in silence as the boy talked to the apparition, neither of them seemed to notice her as she watched with fading tears in her eyes. Nora's 'Ghost' looked away for a moment as she almost seemed to stare at her. Which startled the redhead for a moment before she looked back to Jaune.

"I…I can't say…but I know that she's still looking out for you…even now."

Jaune looked up to see that she was gone before he chuckled and slowly stood up.

"Figured as much…thanks, Nora…" He reached into his pouch as he pulled out two grenades and placed them into the chamber. One dark red and another dark blue as he shut the chamber. He breathed fresh air into his lungs and glared.

"Now…" he focused his semblance throughout his body as he ran from cover.

"Let's go out JNPR Style!" He ran towards the beast as its gaze set itself on the man and he roared.

Jaune aimed as he focused his aura into the weapon, briefly illuminating it with his semblance then fired the dark red dust grenade. The projectile heading straight for the beast as it soared straight for the beast, only to miss and explode high into the sky. Red dust spreading into the sky and mixing into the dark clouds. He shifted into the hammer mode as he charged and evaded the mass of black tendrils that surged towards him.

He knocked them away with explosive strikes, careful not to strike with the blue canister. He spun the hammer around as lightning dust surged around the metal. He struck against one of the many faces of the Grimm King as it roared in pain. When the last of the explosive dust exploded on the Grimm's face did Jaune shoot the dark blue canister, as large amounts of reinforced ice covered the beast until its entire form was encased in a solid block of solid ice.

Jaune smirked as he held the hammer to the sky and focused his aura as lightning began to surge and thunder roared in the sky.

The first canister he shot was a highly concentrated batch of fire dust, refined to an almost perfect blend. It was designed to increase the humidity in the air, causing static electricity to become highly volatile. With the added fragments of lighting dust and a mixture of his aura blended into the dust he could manipulate this energy, focus it on a singular point.

The second canister was highly concentrated ice dust, to hold down the Grimm King and get it into position.

For the biggest lightning blast, the world would ever see.

The static charge began to build across the hammer as the sky darkened and rumbled with raw power. The hammer practically vibrated with the amount of power that was chagring in the air. His nerves beginning to grow numb as the lightning surged around his aura.

He grasped both hands on the handle as he focused, feeling the electricity that surged in the air. He gnashed his teeth and locked his jaw as the hammer trembled with power.

The icy prison began to break as large cracks began to surface. Red eyes flashing within the cold as Jaune gathered the energy as a large bolt of lightning surged in the sky and he pulled back the hammer. And with a mighty yell, he threw the hammer forward as he felt the metal leave his grip. But in his eyes, he was not watching a mere weapon fly away from his grasp.

In his eyes, he was watching the ghost of his oldest friend slip from his fingers while smiling.

"Goodbye…Nora." The hammer flew across the barren land as lightning blazed and danced across its metal.

The King of Grimm roared as the hammer soared and lightning clashed with the ice and snow. Like the myths of old, the air became static with power and the sky quaked in its wrath. And in one moment of epic glory, the largest lightning bolt surged from the sky and struck the hammer, igniting the steel and exploding the dust within in a massive explosion that shook the earth.

Lighting poured forth from the sky as it pounded the earth like the drums of war. A majestic boom exploded outward that could be heard across the lands for miles away. He held his ground as the wind and rain blasted back and a large tornado of fire, ice and lightning spun into the sky.

The earth burning, the water freezing, and the sky drowned in lightning and thunder as if he had unleashed the power of Ragnarök itself.

A fitting tribute to the one he once called sister.

When the thunder settled thick black smoke choked the air, as Jaune struggled to stand back up. His ears ringing from the sound of thunder and his bones shook from the blast. Waving blindly as he stumbled forth before he stopped himself from tumbling over the edge of the massive crater left in its wake.

Nearly as large as a small town and just as deep, that anyone would think it was the work of the Gods, as Jaune carefully eyed the surrounding for his final foe.

He knew that something like that wasn't enough to destroy the King of Grimm. No, not by a long shot. It would only serve to piss it off more. His eyes caught the glint of the last piece of his sister's hammer as he picked up the charred fragment. He held it tight as he left a final prayer for his fallen comrade.

Until the earth began to rumble, and black mist to sept out from the dirt.

Tired eyes turned back to the crater as the smoking and burnt body of the Grimm King began to emerge from the rubble. The beast of Darkness roared as flesh began to reshape and skin began to regrow upon its back. Jaune stared down at the small fragment before he let it slip between his fingers and into the ash-covered field.

He reached for his hips as he drew the blades of his brother and he breathed in multiple breathes to quicken his blood.

"ARGH!" and with a mighty roar, he ran downhill as bullet after bullet sailed through the air. All while the red-haired spectre followed behind him, screaming as well as the Knight faced off against the King.

New Timeline – Two Days before the Dance

Jaune twirled the pencil in his hand as he went over his notes, particularly involving the ideas he had with upgrades for his teammates and friends arsenal. In his long experience of being a huntsman, he knew how important it was to upgrade your equipment and skills from time to time.

Overreliance on one weapon and skill would dull another and would lead to a quicker end. He had seen it happen before. And over the years he had a few ideas.

In his new journal, he sketched ideas for support equipment for all his teammates.

For Nora: Energy gathering/distribution gauntlets, an amplifying belt and a backpack that stored lightning dust for emergencies. Nora's semblance relied on absorbing electrical energy, not always the case with Grimm that didn't have electric type attacks or if there were no large abundances of Dust. The Backpack would help store emergency Lightning dust crystals, the belt would help to amplify the power and the gauntlets distribute the power.

For Ren: a complex diagram that converted his twin sub-machine guns into a bow/katana with interchangeable dust heads quiver. He had long recognised that his brother's weapons didn't match up with his semblance, believing that a bow and arrow would suit Ren's emotion dampening and stealth-like abilities. But he knew that the death of his father affected his weapon's design and was the reason he had never considered the option of taking up a bow and arrow.

He was determined to change his mind this time around and to help him overcome the pain he held for years. But for obvious reasons, he knew that the only way he would ever come to terms with their deaths would be to slay the Nuckelavee that took them away.

'I promise, you will have your vengeance, brother. Just as I will have mine when the time is right…'

He looked over to his classmates as they either paid attention to the lecture or were quietly resting. I.E. Nora. He smiled softly as he watched them.

'But for now, our goal is to keep you all alive.'

"Okay class that will be all for today. Don't forget that the Beacon Dance is just a few days away and I will need some help to set up the cafeteria." Goodwitch addressed as she stood in front of the class. "The responsibility was meant to be upheld by Team CFVY, but I've just been informed their mission is taking longer than expected. Therefore, their duties will now be upheld by Teams RWBY and JNPR due to their recent…food fight in the hall." She glared at said team's as they chuckled or whistled nervously.

Unlike the food fight of the old timeline, the new food fight had been a tad more…destructive.

"That will be all, everyone else, class dismissed." The students began to leave one by one as chatter began to echo amongst the class.

"All right troops listen up!" both teams turned to Nora, Yang and Weiss as they stood in front of the chalkboard, which had somehow had a chalk-like version of the Vale Flag and two of the team members were wearing military uniforms.

"We only have a few days to set up the Beacon Dance. During this time, we will need full co-operation if we want to get this done on time. Over to you first-class Officer Schnee." Nora spoke as she slapped her riding crop on her palm. Shaking her hand in pain slightly.

"Yang and Nora will set up the speaker system," Weiss said as the party girl nodded in her uniform.

"I do know how to bring the party!" she grinned with aviator glasses on. While Nora just grinned while dropping a microphone.

"Drop the bass!"

"Pyrrha and I will set up the decorations with Ruby and Blake. Jaune and Ren, you two will go into town for us and pick up the supplies. I've already compiled a list of what we need and how much it will cost. Take my card and charge it to my account." She held up her platinum styled SDCC card. "It should cover the fees."

Jaune wanted to warn her of what her father would do in a couple of weeks, but it was, unfortunately, one of the things that made her realise that she needed to break away from the family legacy that her father had long since tainted. And would continue to do so with Watt's help.

The best moment of her life was arresting her father. Couldn't spoil that for her.

"Isn't this a little…much?" Ren asked as he held up the list…that then unfolded into a longer list comically.

"Nonsense. The parties that I attended were much more extravagant than this one. Don't worry, it won't be overly extravagant, I can assure you." She explained while Jaune smirked a little as he patted his friend on the shoulder. "Besides it's all Jaune's fault, to begin with!" Weiss pointed at the time traveller. "If he hadn't shoved, that super high energy drink down Nora's throat we wouldn't have been drafted into doing this!"

"Look I said I was sorry okay, and I signed the treaty just like the rest of you! No more high energy drinks for Nora and no Escalations from Weiss! lest we all forget…the Battle of Beacon Cafeteria."

Everyone held their heads at the mention of the now-infamous food war of Beacon. The day Jaune unleashed the unspeakable horror that was Nora on a super high caffeine trip. The day so many lives were changed when a simple food fight between two teams had escalated into a war of attrition. How one simple act of desperation had turned the tides of the food war and left the field stained with blood (ketchup) and choked with thick white smoke (flour).

The Day the Kingdoms of RWBY and JNPY, set aside their differences for the greater good and thus, bore fruit to the Valkyrie's Winter Accord

"Eh, besides I think it will be good to do something normal for a little bit. All these espionage and conspiracy missions we've been doing have been exhausting. And I think it's time we have some fun, what do you say?" he suggested as Ren pondered that for a moment before he nodded.

"Yes, I suppose some… 'Fun Time' is in order."

Both boys nodded as they stood up to leave. "We'll be back shortly," Jaune said as he turned to leave.

"Wait." But just before he left, Pyrrha managed to grab Jaune's arm and pulled him back. His confusion lasted only for a moment before he felt the soft press of her lips on his and he smiled while kissing back. A smile present on their faces when they parted.

"Don't keep you waiting?"

"Something like that."

Jaune smirked as he and Ren left the room, while the rest looked at Pyrrha with a somewhat mockingly disgusted look, while others merely blushed. "You two are so…sickeningly adorable sometimes…I feel like I'm going to have a toothache just watching you two." Yang grumbled as she shook her head while Pyrrha chuckled a little before getting to work.

A Few Hours Later – City of Vale

The City of Vale was in full swing as tourists and civilians were walking around the vendors. The air was heavy with the scent of food, the streets nearly drowned in hustle and bustle of people. And the world seemed just that little bit normal.

Except for two boys who were currently carrying a large number of bags full of party supplies.

"All right, that should be it…" Jaune stressed as he carried the bags alongside Ren, who was struggling just as much as him. "You know, it's not all that bad. My mum would make us carry groceries ten times this size from the market…comes with having eight or so kids." Ren nodded.

"Still, I did say her list seemed a bit…extreme," the boy said as he and Jaune walked back to the docks. "But I'm still surprised at just how much."

"Tell me about it, I mean…" he placed one of the bags down as he held up a small frilly looking piece of cloth. "Doilies? I don't think those are usually used at parties?" even though this was the second time he would be at the dance it still confused him why she wanted doilies.

"Everyone has their taste, Weiss' are just…frilly." Jaune nodded at that before he spotted a flouriest and spied a red rose in the stall.

"Hey, can we hold up a minute, I just need to get something." He asked as Ren looked over and raised an eyebrow.

"A rose? What are you getting a rose for?"

"For Pyrrha, I'm going to give it to her when I ask her to the dance," Jaune explained as he walked over.

"But I thought you were already going to take her to the dance? Seeing as you are currently courting her. What do you need the rose for?" he asked as Jaune held the rose in his hand and twirled it in his fingers.

"Well, my mum always used to say that 'before you can even think of asking a girl something, you need to give her a rose in her favourite colour. That way they know you're serious about your feelings'. Plus, Pyrrha is kind of the romantic type and she loves these kinds of gestures, but don't tell her I said that?" Ren nodded as he set down the bags.

"I won't, but whatever makes you two happy." Jaune smiled as he handed the vendor some coins.

"So, what about you Ren, when are you going to ask Nora to the dance?" Ren looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it's kind of obvious you both have feelings for each other, and I just assumed that you two would be going to the dance together. I mean you two practically do everything together. (and I mean everything). So, it would only make sense that you two would be going to the dance together." A blush formed on his friends' cheeks as he shook his head.

"I-I…I have no idea what you are talking about. Nora is my friend, and that's it. I don't see her as anything more than that." Jaune gave him a 'are you serious face' as he shook his head.

'Now I understand where everyone else was coming from?'

"…Ren… I'm going to give you some advice my grandpa told me. 'There are two ways to be fooled: one is to believe what isn't so; the other is to refuse to believe what is so.' You and Nora have more than just a friendly relationship with her. My question is…" he stared at his friend.

"Why don't you act on it?"

Ren stared at his leader before he sighed and shook his head. "It's…it's not that simple." he looked over to a particular family as they laughed and enjoyed the moments of life. The father holding his wife close to his arm, while the son played with a small plane as he animatedly ran around the streets.

"I haven't told you much about my past, have I?"

Jaune bit his tongue to stop him from saying the truth, but nodded all the same to the boy.

"Not really, but that's only because I didn't feel I had the right to ask. But what does it have to do with Nora?" he 'asked' as Ren sighed

"Before I met Nora, I had a family. We lived outside the Kingdom Just me, my mother and my father. We were small, but we were happy. But then the Grimm attacked, and I lost everything I had that day. She and I were all that we have left. I won't deny that having her by my side has been some of the best moments of my life, and I can't pretend that there is something between us…but the truth is the reason I can't take that step with her….is I'm afraid that if I do and something happens to her…I won't be able to go on."

Jaune stared at his brother as he felt the weight of his words and even understood them. But at the same time, he couldn't agree with them.

"…Ren…I need to tell you something." He leaned his back against the wall and looked to the sky.

"A long time ago, before I met Pyrrha, I had this friend back in my hometown. She was…she was kind of like Pyrrha. She was strong, brave, and kind. She always considered other people before herself and always did her best. She was everything that any huntsman would want to be. She was everything I wanted to be…." He smiled softly as he remembered his past, during the early days of his Beacon Youth.

"She and I were close, closer than friends should be. Everyone could tell that she had feelings for me, that there was something between us. But I was too young and stupid to realise it. And…like an idiot I had my eyes on another…" he thought about the times he failed to see Pyrrha's affections and wasted them on Weiss.

"This person you were after, was she Pyrrha?" Ren asked, trying to work out the timeline of Jaune and Pyrrha's meeting. Seeing this Jaune nodded and hated the fact he had to twist the story to suit it.

"…No, it was a different girl, before Pyrrha. But instead of trying to pursue me…my friend encouraged me to go after her. She always said that she wanted me to be happy…and never did l realise what she meant at the time. But then…she…she died." He clenched his fist as memories of Cinder swarmed in his head.

"I'm…I'm sorry…was it the Grimm or…" Ren asked as Jaune shook his head.

"No…No…she was killed by bandits…a woman who favoured Fire Dust. That's what her parents told me at least... When she died, I learned that all those times she helped me, it was because loved me, and I was too stupid to realise it. I spent a lot of time grieving her loss, cursing myself for not being there to help her. I even believed that because of my ignorance I should never be allowed to love…because what kind of man deserves love when he foolishly wastes it on another?" he remembered his youth and how he swore off finding love for himself.

"But then…after some time, I realised that's not what she would've wanted for me. That she would've wanted me to keep moving on with my life. To not be shackled to my fears of the past." He looked over to Ren and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Which is why I am telling you as both a leader and a friend. Don't wait. Don't hesitate and tell her how you feel. Don't give yourself the chance to live in regret for something you should've said. Don't end up like I did and go for it." The magenta streaked boy pondered this for a moment before nodding.

"I'll…I'll consider it." Jaune shrugged as he picked up the bags.

"That's all I ask." he smiled and began to walk to the store. "Also, if you're going to ask her out, get her a pink Rose. I think she'd like it." He suggested with a sly grin while Ren rolled his eyes and went to the merchant.

The merchant smiled as she handed the boys the roses and waved them off.

"Excuse me?" she jumped slightly as a voice caused her to look up to a cloaked figure that stood before her. His face completely covered by a white porcelain blank mask with two dark eye holes. Because of it, she couldn't make heads or tails of his features. A Faunus maybe, if the two protrusion in the hood were any indication of horns.

"I'd like to buy a flower please…" she looked a little unsure but nodded.

"S-Sure, which one would you like?" the hooded man looked over as he pointed a gloved finger to a yellow flower.

"That one" she smiled as she picked it.

"Oh, this is a nice one, it's called a Daffodil. It's a very nice flower, my mama always told me that it signifies a new beginning." He looked at the flower and took it from her.

"New beginnings? …appropriate." He held the flower between his fingers.

"Um…that will be 7.45 Lien?" the hooded man looked up, his red eyes illuminating from the dark hood for a moment.

"Of course, here." He handed her a few coins that made her uneasy at the red stains. "Sorry…had a little lunch on the way here and…spilt some 'sauce' on them."

"I-Its no problem." She placed the coins in the register. "May I ask who it's for." The man looked up as he grinned pulled up the mask slightly and revealed the lower half of his face that was pale as marble and eerily complemented his red eyes.

"An Old Friend."

He walked away as the woman looked back at the man with a sick feeling of dread in her stomach. If only she knew that the man she spoke with, would change the world forever and upset the natural order of things.

If only.

Back at Beacon

Pyrrha used her semblance to move the speakers into place, as she and the other girls were setting the place up for the dance tonight. She looked around as she smiled at the familiar set up and a fond memory of her boyfriend in a dress as he attempted to cheer her up.

It was one of the best memories that she had from her old life, the moment she had her dance with her crush.

This time would be different however, as this time she was guaranteed a date with the one she wanted. This time she wouldn't be putting aside her desires for someone else. This time she would be doing what she wanted, what she was afraid to do. What she should've done a lifetime ago.

Just indulge herself for once in her young, arguable cut short, life and be happy.

She hummed a little as she looked at the dance floor and faint memories of her first dance came flooding back. Jaune wearing that ridiculous dress just to make her feel better. The 'seemingly random' dance number her and the rest of team JNPR performed.

She still didn't have the heart to tell Yang that was all choreographed ahead of schedule. Who knew Ren could be so passionate about dancing?

It was one of the best moments of her life. And hopefully, it could be so again. With of course some minor positive changes.

"We're back!" she looked over as she saw Ren and her boyfriend, she still shivered in delight at the word, as they carried the heavy bags to the tables.

"We got everything on the list, but are you sure we need doilies?"

"Of course, they give a refined and elegant touch to the room. Despite being a school dance, there must be some form of extravagance to this event." Jaune rolled his eyes as he set the doily down and cast his gaze over to Pyrrha.

She returned the smile as they locked eyes with each other. "Hey." He said with a smile.

"Hey yourself." She smiled back as Jaune looked over to Ren who nodded and proceeded to walk over to Nora, who was busy setting up the DJ booth.

"Pyrrha can we talk somewhere?" he asked as she looked confused for a moment.

"Is this relationship related or…" she looked over to see the others busy with their task and not paying attention to them. "Mission related?" he shook his head.

"Relationship, just…come with me." He held her hand as she smiled, and they walked out of the hall.

"Hey, where are those two going?" Yang asked, slightly miffed about the two just wandering off.

"Leave them, we'll ask about them later. Right now, we have a Dance to set up." Blake said as she put up the decorations.

Jaune and Pyrrha strolled around the school as they held their hands together. A warm smile and a gentle breeze in the air as they enjoyed this small moment together. Not a care in the world and not a thought to the impending danger that waited for them. They shared a chuckle before they stopped as an orange maple leaf drifted in front of them and landed near an all too familiar pillar.

"…You remember this place?" Jaune asked as she nodded.

"…Yes," how could she forget? This was one of her best and worst memories of their past lives.

"This was where I went after the others tried to cheer me up. I was contemplating Ozpin's offer, and then you came over and sat next to me." She walked over as she placed her hand on the pillar.

"And I told you, you were the only one that ever believed in me." She nodded, as a sad smile on her face.

"It was here that I asked your thoughts about what I should do. About accepting my destiny, and I was hoping you would give me the right answer I needed." Jaune shook his head.

"Yeah…and then like the idiot I was I said something stupid…" he sighed angrily.

"If I had known what was going on if I had known what that bastard Ozpin said, I would've told you something completely different. I would've told you not to let others decide your destiny and do what you felt was right."

"…But you didn't…and I took it the wrong way…and then…" An uncomfortable silence drifted between them as neither of them knows what to say.

"…I hate this place. The memory of it." Jaune said as he looked up.

"This spot was where I made the biggest mistake of my life. I should've pressed more, demanded you tell me what was going on. Then I would've told you what you needed to hear. That I believe destiny is a bunch of crap and just…anything…to make you not listen to him." He gripped his fist.

"But I didn't…and because of it I lost you, long before Cinder took you away…" he felt a hand grip his own as he looked up to his girlfriend's soft and gentle eyes.

"In fairness Jaune, I should've been more trusting with you. I should've told you what Ozpin said and trusted my partner, my friend, more than him. But I didn't and that contributed to my death." She reached up and wiped a tear forming in the corner of his eye.

"So, please stop blaming yourself for what happened, and I shall do the same. Besides, you're not the only one that hates this spot."

He held her hands in his as he reached behind his back.

"Then let's change the memory of this place." He held out a red rose as he presented it to the red-haired champion. She gasped slightly as she looked up from the crimson rose to his soft smile.

"Another one of my many regrets was wasting my time chasing someone that would only see me as a friend. Instead of the one that was beside me the most. And even though I never got to do this, I hope I can make it up and do it right…" he held it to her as he smiled.

"Pyrrha…will you go to the Dance with me?"

Pyrrha stared at the one she loved as small tears formed in her eyes and a laugh escaped her throat while wiping away the tears. At first, Jaune thought he had failed again, only for her to take the rose and say.

"Yes, yes I will."

He smiled as he embraced the girl in a warm and gentle hug. The moment between them washing away the stain of this place and forging a new and better memory in its place. It was a small moment of victory over the past, but a victory, nonetheless.

"…So, will I see you in a proper tux this time, or would you rather we got together in matching dresses?" she asked with a smirk as he let out a laugh

"Please don't ruin this."

Night of the Beacon Dance

The music was pumping and resonating within the hall. Yang, now in a short white dress with black heels as she stands at a podium. The doors in front of her open and she flips out upon seeing who walks in.

"Ooohh, you look beautiful!" Ruby groans as she looks distressed in her red dress with black lace, belt, and pumps.

"Can we have a serious talk about how Weiss fights in these?" she tries to maintain her balance as she walks to the podium, much to her laughing sister's amusement.

"Shut it, Yang!"

Meanwhile outside, Sun was seen walking around wearing a new black jacket (now closed up) with a white tie hung around his neck, which he proceeds to fight with before going inside.

"Stupid... dumb... neck trap!"

"I knew you'd look better in a tie." he stops his struggling and stares at the dark purple dress worn by Blake, now looking like she traded her dark bags for violet eyeshadow, as she steps forward and takes him by the arm.

"Sooo, does this mean we're going... together?"

"Technically, though my first dance is spoken for." She replied coyly while Sun had a grin on his face.

Inside the ballroom, streamers are hung through glass chandeliers, pink and blue balloons are everywhere, and students in dark suits and bright dresses are stepping with each other to the music between the white-clothed tables.

Blake was spun around by Yang before they curtsey to one another, and Sun comes up and takes his date's hands as Yang gestures for him to do so. She goes to hang with Ruby and Weiss (in a similar white dress as Yang's) in the back of the room, watching Blake laugh and enjoy herself before smiling at her team.

"Looks like the party is going off without a hitch if I do say so myself," Yang said proudly as she watched the others dance, next to her team.

"Mission accomplished," Weiss said as she, in a rare moment, fist-bumped the blond brawler.

"So, what do we do now?" Yang smirks at her sister and begins to walk away.

"Just have fun! Maybe even have a dance with a certain tall blond and good looking. And I ain't talking about me." she proceeds to walk away and do so.

"So, what about you, partner?" she asks before Neptune walks over as he holds out a hand to Weiss.

"May I have this dance?" he asks as Weiss nods.

"Thank you, I would be delighted." She said while Ruby looked confused.

"Wait I thought you said that Neptune turned you down? Why is he suddenly asking you to dance with him?" she asks as Neptune looks bashfully and slightly fearfully away.

"Well, ~…"

A day earlier

Weiss approached Neptune as she gathered up the courage. "Neptune!" she walks pasts Jaune, who happened to be walking by, as she goes up to Neptune.

"Oh, uh, hey, what's up?" he asks as Jaune remembers this moment and decides to stay put.

"I know this is a little unorthodox, but... I wanted to ask you something." she puts her hands behind her back trying to look innocent. "Would you... like to accompany me to the dance tomorrow?"

She asks with a hopeful smile while Neptune rubs the back of his head and smiles with raised eyebrows.

"Oh…uh, gosh I'm flattered really. But I uh…" He begins to speak, already causing Weiss to look crushed until.

"Hey! Neptune, buddy! Can I talk to you for a second?" Jaune suddenly appeared, causing Weiss to stumble back slightly while he dragged Neptune over to a corner.

"Any particular reason you aren't accepting an invite from my good friend, Weiss, over there?" he asks while having an arm around his shoulder.

"Look, man, she's cute and all but…I just don't want to go. It just won't work out, you know?" Jaune gives him a blank stare as his grip tighten around the blue-haired pretty boy's neck.

"Look, mate, I can tell when someone is lying. And right now, you're lying is about to hurt my friend over there." he gestured to Weiss who still looked confused, but upset.

"So, tell me the truth…" he picked up a stone off the fountain and held it in his hand, before crushing it into dust and causing Neptune to flinch.

"Or we're going to have some problems. Capeesh?" He spoke deadly as the boy shakily nodded.

"O-Okay…the truth is I…I can't dance, okay." Jaune raised an eyebrow, he already knew but had to play it off like he didn't know.

"…Dude? That's it. That's why you won't go to the dance with her, because you can't dance? You would rather break a girl's heart and go to a dance, alone, rather than just admit to everyone that you can't move in rhythm to music?"

"That about sums it up, yeah." Jaune rolled his eyes.

'No matter how many times I hear it, it still sounds like a bunch of Grimm Shit…seriously, how on Remnant did this idiot get Weiss' attention?'

"Yeah, I know, it's not very cool. But please don't tell anyone, I kind of have an image to uphold. I mean look at me, I'm pretty cool right?" Jaune just shook his head.

"Honestly dude, right now you aren't cool at all. I mean letting down a pretty lady like that over a dumb reason is not cool. Not cool at all." Neptune looked stunned a little and was about to rebut him until Jaune continued.

"If all you care about is how over people will think of your 'image' then you're a god damn fool. Image, fame, popularity. In the end, it doesn't matter, because as soon as we leave these doors, our lives are on the line. We live or we die in the service of our Kingdoms. And Grimm, they don't care two shits how popular you were at the Academy, we taste good either way to them. And the fact that hasn't sunken into your skull yet, makes me very worried about your chances of survival." Neptune didn't reply as he listened.

"So, stop thinking about how cool you think you are and invite Weiss to the dance. Do you like her?" The boy looked back hesitantly at Weiss, who stood still as a stump.

"Well, yeah I think she's cool."

"Now, do yourself a favour, swallow your damn ego and pride and ask Weiss to the dance. And don't pull any of those 'lavish' moves or pickup lines. Just ask her out." He advised as he hoped to give Weiss a better experience than her initial time.

Neptune looked unsure as he looked between him and Weiss. "Yeah but,"

"Okay then let's put this in another way. Either you ask her to the dance, actually dance with her…or I take you to the closest pool and throw you in. with a set of chains." he threatened as his gripped tightened on his shoulder.

"Understand?" he smiled wickedly as Neptune couldn't nod any faster.

"Hey, Weiss! On second thought, yes! Yes, I would love to go to the dance with you!" Weiss smiled at that as Jaune let go. "If you excuse me, I need to go pick up my tux. See you later!" he dashed away leaving a dust cloud in his place.

Weiss walked up to Jaune as stood next to him. "You know, I didn't need you to intervene." She said as Jaune nodded.

"I know, but I know guys like him. They're just nervous is all. He just needed a little push in the right direction. Plus, you're my friend Weiss. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my friends." She smiled a little as she nodded.

"Thank you," he smiled back.

"Besides, if he turns out to be a womanizer…" he started walking away. "I could always just beat him up."

Present - Beacon Dance

Neptune began to sweat when he imagined Jaune holding a chain and glaring at him menacingly. "Let's just say I had a little…encouragement." Was all he said as he held out his arm to Weiss, who took it and went the opposite direction of Yang, leaving Ruby behind.

"Does that mean I can change out of these stupid things and into my hood now?!" upon receiving no answer, she sighs and waddles around in her painful footwear.

"Stupid lady stilts! Who invented these!?"

Jaune smiled as he watched the interaction. He knew that Neptune would no doubt make Weiss see that he was a womanizer, and thus end their relationship. But tonight, was the night that she deserved to be happy. To forget about her family name and just enjoy herself. that was all that mattered.

"Kept you waiting?" Speaking of which, he heard from behind as he turned and stared at the sight.

In the previous timeline, he never really took the moment to appreciate the dress that Pyrrha had adorned herself in. He had been too busy and to hung up on Weiss to ever fully notice. But this time, not even he could deny how beautiful she looked on the dress. Especially with her hair cut short and the Red Rose he bought her adorning the right side of her head. She smiled as face seemed to almost brighten up the whole room.

"Pyrrha, you look…wow." She smirked a little.

"that's not what you said the last time you saw this." She said alluringly as she fiddled with her dress.

"Last time I was an idiot. Now I am a more mature and wiser gentleman, that has an understanding of true beauty. I am far beyond the young man I used to be, and far more insightful of the young woman before me."

"And?" Jaune stared before he sighed.

"…And now I wish I could meet my younger self and kick him in the face for failing to notice you." She laughed a little before Jaune held out his hand.

"Miss Nikos, may I have this dance?" she smiled and held his own.

"I would be delighted, Mister Arc."

The two held each other's hand as they made their way to the dance floor. Luckily soft music was playing over the speakers as the moved in with the other couples. The danced softly to the rhythm as they twirled and danced around the room, their eyes gazing into each other's, as well as the surrounding area.

They could see the faces of all their friends, the teachers, Penny and her guards as well as some of the opposing teams they would be facing in the Vytal Festival. They even spotted Neptune and Weiss as he clumsily attempted to dance with Weiss, as she gave him small lessons and steps as they danced.

"I guess he wasn't lying, he really can't dance," Jaune said as he and Pyrrha held each other's embrace.

"Not the most elegant couple…I see you still have those dance skills; they were surprising the first time around." He smirked a little as he twirled her, who expertly moved to match his rhythm.

"I'm not the only one. Somebody has been taking dance lessons?" he asked cheekily as she smiled.

"Well, I figure this time I'd surprise you and show you that you're not the only one that can dance." She smirked as they danced, "And it had nothing to do with not wanting to get yelled at by Ren's strict dancing instructions again." She muttered the last part to herself.

Jaune wondered what she said until he spotted something and smirked. "Speaking of surprises, check that out." She blinked in confusing before she followed his gaze.

"Whoa…that is surprising," Pyrrha said as she noticed her fellow teammates, Ren and Nora as they too softly danced. Much to the surprise of Pyrrha. Especially since Nora herself had a pink rose pinned to her dress.

"When did?"

"Oh, right. I may have given Ren a little nudge into asking Nora out while we were in town." Jaune smirked as he looked over to his friend, who seemed to be smiling more, even as Nora was nervously muttering to herself and focusing on not trying to step on his feet.

"I figured it was better they got the ball rolling rather than wait for another year or so. Especially with what happened in Atlas."

"I agree. I was watching from inside you, remember. I was so happy when they finally got together…but it also made me a little envious that I never got that chance." She lowered her head slightly before he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.

"Hey, no more regrets. We're together now, that's all that matters." She smiled as she placed her head next to his.

"Yes, this is all I need." He smiled as they rocked gently. Wishing this night could last forever.

That was until he spotted Cinder as she began to make her move away from the party. "She's moving. It's time. Which means Ruby is about to notice her, so I need you to keep her busy. " He whispered into her ear, as she nodded.

"Did you stash your gear?"

"Along the path, I've got the armour and the helmet near the Tower. The sword and gun are on my back. Never go anywhere without them." She nodded as she too held a concealed weapon on the thigh of her leg.

"And just when we were getting to the good part." He gave a small peck on the forehead before they parted hand in hand, finishing their dance. A simple nod was all they needed as they moved back to the table.

"I'm going to go grab us a drink, want anything?" he asked as she nodded.

He walked away as his smiling face morphed into a fierce look of determination.

Ruby meanwhile had enough partying and made her way to the exit. "Ruby!" she heard as she looked over to Pyrrha who was waving at her. "Where are you going? Come here, have a seat." She offered as Ruby was tempted to decline.

But being the good girl that she was she decided to go and sit with her friend. At least she would be sitting instead of dancing. Give her combat boots any day then these stupid stilettos!

'Seriously! Who invented these!'

Cinder smirked as she slinked away from the party, a magical seal appeared around her form as her attractive black dress was replaced with her stealth suit. Which consisted of a sleeveless jacket, long gloves, stiletto heel boots, a black glass mask and several straps with containers of powdered Dust lined across her pants.

The gloves, boots and pants have black mosaic designs that are infused with Dust.

She hopped up the ledged as she quickly and quietly made her way to the tower. Jaune peeked from around the corner as he glared at the woman. Careful to make sure he wasn't spotted by Emerald or Mercury, but he knew they were more than likely keeping an eye out for the high priority targets like Ozpin and the teaching staff.

He removed his jacket and dress shirt as he revealed a skin-tight black t-shirt. He moved along the garden as he grabbed the bulletproof vest he hid in the shrubs. Further along, he grabbed the pistol and compact sword as he placed them in their slots.

The final piece was the skull-shaped helmet as he placed it on his head, the red flashing as he prepared for what was about to happen.

Cinder stealthily moved her away to the tower as she easily disposed of the guards.

"Excuse me, no one's allowed in this area." Cinder ignores him and continues to approach.

"Stop!" The soldier demands before she sprints towards him and he opens fire on Cinder.

But she manages to overpower him, using his gun to take out another approaching soldier and then throws him against a handrail. She dodges two more soldiers as they rush her wielding batons. Cinder flash-forges a pair of black blades from fire Dust and trounces them both.

She hears the elevator door open as Two guards appear out of the elevator.

"Hey, man, do you know the Wi-Fi password?"

"It's Beacon but replace the E with a 3 and add a pound symbol to the end."

"Who came up with that?"

"I don't know, some Vale official with a bad moustache I think, who cares. The sooner we finish our patrol the better we-"

The elevator door opens to show Cinder waiting. One of the guards notices the fallen men outside. Both guards grow apprehensive as Cinder casually walks onto the elevator, the doors closing as she turns around. Thrashing sounds can be heard from the elevator.

The elevator opens and Cinder alone walks out, the other two dead. She casually strolls to the computers as she sits down and begins to write out the code that Watts had created for her. It had taken her months to memories the right sequences and numbers necessary to exploit the weakness in the Atlas systems.

'This code better work Watts, otherwise, Salem will not be happy. Especially since Tyrian's been off the grid for a while now…' She continued to type as she had a dark thought. 'Could he have had a run-in with those two that found the hideout? No, impossible. We made sure to cover our tracks better this time, he must be doing something else.' She pondered to herself as she finished writing up the last line of the code.

"Cinder, a party guest is leaving"

Cinder sighed in frustration. "Who is it?" she asked with annoyance.

"General Ironwood and it looks like he's done with the party. Should we intervene?"

She just finished the last of the coding as she smirked seeing the Queen Piece flash on the screens. "No, we're done here."

"No…no you're not"

A sudden voice broke through their communications as their eyes widened in terror at the familiar voice. A moment later a bullet impacted the holographic screen and destroyed the computer. She turned around and was met with the same skull-faced man as his smoking gun was pointed right at her.

"The party is just getting started."

Cinder backed up slightly as the man began to walk over to her.

"Hello Cinder, nice disguise. Though if you honestly believe wearing a small mask that covers only your eyes is good camouflage, then you are more deluded then I thought."

"What are you doing here!? How did you get in!?"

"I could ask you the same thing. I distinctly remember telling you to leave Vale before the Festival. Either you have bad hearing or you're a glutton for punishment." She tensed as the glass on her legs began to glow.

"A glutton then. You always like to choose the hard path, don't you Cinder?" he looked over the computers as he shook his head. "I do hope you put up a better fight this time. Or at the very least, better than what Tyrian gave."

Her eyes widened further as she stood back. "Tyrian? He-"

"He's dead. Killed him myself then burned his body to cinders." He chuckled a little at the joke. "How else would I be standing here?" Her heart began to beat as he drew the sword from his back and extended it to full length.

"Now…are you ready for round two?" he strides towards her as she growled and rushed towards him.

Back at the party, Mercury and Emerald had terrified looks on their faces as soon as they heard the voice of the man that had attacked them. "Cinder. Cinder!" Emerald grew more worried when she didn't reply.

"We have to go." She hissed as he nodded.

Pyrrha instantly noticed as she smirked while turning to Ruby and causing her to gain their attention as her eyes widened with delight.

"Hey friends!" they turned to see Pyrrha and Ruby waving at them. "Where are you going? The party's just starting!" Emerald had a strained look on her face as she waved at the young huntress.

"Come over here! Let's have some fun!"

Back at the tower, Jaune and Cinder continued to combat each other as they clashed glass against steel. Jaune's black blade easily chipping away at the glass sword of his sworn opponent as he subtly enhanced the blade with his semblance.

He slashed his blade left and right as he barely managed to parry each one. His spare hand sported his pistol as he fired off several rounds, each one missing and impacting against the computers and walls. She rushed toward him as her blades slashed at the air around him, as he dodged effortlessly.

His fist found its home in her stomach as she gasped in pain before a knee planted itself in her face blood already dripping down her nose.

He followed up with his pistol hitting her collar bone as her aura did its best to dampen the blow. She cried out in pain and jumped back and attempted to summon her bow and arrows.

But a powerful aura enhanced bullet shattered the construct to piece as the glass shards crumbled to dust. A second bullet grazing her leg as the bullet punched past her shielding.

Before she could regain herself, his blade was locked with her as he forced the woman to one knee.

"Better but could use some improvement." He mocked as he held her down.

Cinder struggled against the man's strength as she tried not to use her Maiden powers, lest she exposed herself any more than she already had. No doubt the sound of their fighting would attract the rest of the Atlas forces and bring General Ironwood here quicker. Maybe even capture her if she didn't get away from this masked man soon.

"Who are you!? Why are you interfering!?" she demanded as his red lensed eyes glared into her.

"…I interfere because what you did, what you will do, has shaped my life in ways you cannot even imagine…as for who I am, I am what you and Salem created…" he forced her down. "What you and Hazel and Watts and Tyrian forged in the fires of your vanity and depravity," he growled as her eyes widened at the names he listed.

The blade grew drew closer to her neck as she struggled, and fear drove itself into her heart. "And I will not rest until you and all who stand by her side are punished for your crimes!"

The floor beneath their feet cracked as she looked into the eyes of the devil. "I am your death!"

Before he could finish the job, the elevator door opened and General Ironwood stepped out, his eyes widen at the two masked individuals, "Hey! Who are you two!" he drew his revolver at the masked intruders.

"General Ironwood, punctual as ever." 'Rudianos' mocked as Cinder growled in annoyance and had no choice but to resort to the Fall Maiden's power as her eye flared with power. A powerful flash of fire spread out and pushed the two back.

"That light, that was…" Ironwood spoke as Cinder cursed and jumped out the window after blasting it with fire. His attention was then turned to the skull-faced man as he stood back up. "You stay right there!" he demanded as Rudianos ignored him.

"I said stop-!" he never got to finish as Rudianos quickly disarmed him and held his blade to his neck. Red lenses glaring into his soul.

"Listen well, General. I am not your enemy, but I am also not your ally. I know the man you are, and the man you could become. You believe yourself strong with your army. But take them away and you fall so easily to doubt and fear. I give this warning to you and Ozpin's circle. You've been infiltrated and the one you think is dead still walks amongst the living. Do not trust the cowardly lion and do not fall to paranoia and despair. Victory can be assured against the Dark Queen…" he glared into his eyes as he pressed the blade to his neck.

"But only if you stay out of my way."

He then let go as he rushed to the window. Ironwood snapped out of his shock as he fired at the retreating figure only to miss as he jumped out the window.

He followed as he searched the grounds, only to see nothing. He went over what the man said as he looked around the room. "Who was that? And what did he mean 'we've been infiltrated?' and the dead? Who's he talking about?" He glared before looking at the camera's in the room and opening his scroll.

"Ozpin, we've had a breach. Meet me in your office, two intruders were in the CCT tower. One of them had the Fall Maiden's power…" He heard his response as he nodded. "I'll send a team up to survey the damage, recover the tapes and any sabotage attempts…I think something else is going on, Ozpin…something we don't know about."

Under the ledge, Jaune held his grip as the man walked away.

He waited until he was gone, before crawling back inside. He walked over to one of the computers as he unfurled a red scroll and plugged it into the system. A series of codes flashed across the holographic screen, the Queen piece glitched into an image of a White Rook before settling back into its Queen shape and disappearing.

He smirked as he pulled the scroll free.

"Dummy program uploaded. From now on, Cinder will think she has complete control when in reality she doesn't. Rook takes Queen, bitch." He walked away satisfied that all was going according to plan.

Cinder's Dorm Room

Cinder grunted in pain as she limped back to her Dorm. "Emerald, Mercury! Get back to the Dorm room now! He knows we're here!" she hissed as she collapsed on her bed. Her leg bleeding all over the carpet as her aura began to stem the bleeding.

"Who? Ozpin!?"

Emerald hissed back trying to keep her voice down.

"I don't know! Just…just get back here right now!" she hissed before ripping out the headpiece and throwing it against the wall. "Salem…Salem is going to kill me when she learns about this." She told herself as she tried to calm her breath.

"Who the hell is he!? How the hell does he keep knowing where I'll be!? And the hell does he know about us!? And Tyrian? Did he kill Tyrian? …it doesn't matter, I uploaded the code, that should allow me access into the system, he didn't stop me from hacking…but, did he only just arrive, or did he let me?" she opened the program and saw a string of data being sent to her.

"Good, it's still working. He hasn't discovered it…" doubt and fear crawled into her chest as she growled in frustration. "I cannot fail, I will not fail! I've come too far and gave up too much to be stopped now!"

"…Perhaps I can help with that."

Her eyes widened in terror as she spun around to see what looked like a hooded man shrouded in shadow stand before her. His face was covered in a white mask that revealed no features, other than the two horn-like protrusions on his forehead. A glass bow and arrow instantly in her hand as she aimed it at the man.

"At ease, I am no enemy." He raised his gloved hands. "I am but a messenger from our Mistress, Salem."

She didn't relent as she aimed the bow at him. The man sighed as he held up his hand and shadowy appendages emerged from the floor that instantly disarmed her, much to her shock.

"That proof enough for you?" he released her as she stared at the man.

"W-Who are you?" if she could see beneath the mask, she would've seen a rather wicked grin.

"I am Noctis Mor. The Shadow of Salem and her most secretive agent." He bowed slightly while Cinder glared at him.

"How come I've never met you before in my life. I've been serving Salem for years now, and she's never once mentioned you." Noctis chuckled as he waved his hand.

"Of course, you haven't heard of me. I am one of her most closely guarded secrets. She crafted me from her flesh years ago and uses me as one of her greatest spymasters. I am even a secret to the Great Ozpin himself. There are things that you know, and things that you don't need to know. Everyone has their secrets after all, and you are not privy to them, little thief." He strolled around her room and looked at the décor.

"Why are you here?"

"To do my job and deliver you a message. Salem is not happy with the constant interferences and has sensed the Death of Tyrian Callow. She is concerned that you will not be able to achieve the mission." His fingers brushed against the desk.

"It's not my fault! This-this man keeps interfering with all my missions! He knows exactly where I'm going to be and knows exactly how I'm going to fight him! Who is he!?" Noctis grinned under his mask as he moved about the room.

"Ah yes, the masked man. We've had some trouble with him in the past."

"Who is he then? One of Ozpin's allies? He knows who I am and the names of all the others in our group. After this, there will be no doubt that he will reveal to them who I am."

"He's not going to expose you, not just yet. He's waiting for the right moment to drag you out into the light. How he will do this is unknown. So, be cautious and try not to draw any more unwanted attention to yourself. Besides he despises Ozpin and his little order just as much as Hazel does. He knows that Salem is the enemy and believes that Ozpin is a fool and unfit to protect humanity." He smiled under the mask at the mention of his true rival.

"Until now he had kept to the shadows, watching and observing us. But with the Vytal Festival so close and knowing how important it is, he has decided to act."

"Then…what do we do?." she asked as the living shadow grinned.

"Salem has decided to take precautions to ensure that the 'Plan' is kept on schedule. Which is why she has tasked me with giving you a new power, one that will surpass the Maiden Power that already exists inside of you." Cinder raised a sceptical eye.

"Wait a minute, if Salem had a way to increase the Maiden's power within me, why didn't she give it to me when I stole half of it?"

"Because discretion was necessary until we located the other half of the Maiden's power, Salem knows full well that once you have power, you tend to flaunt it recklessly. It's probably the reason you were found out the first time." She lowered her head at this. "That and she was still working on it before you left. Now it is complete and has tasked me with giving it to you…"

He held up his hand as his tri-horned draconic symbol appeared in his hand in a small flume of red and black flames. She stared at the power as she felt it whisper to her.

"This will combine itself with the Grimm fragment that keeps the Maiden Magic inside you. It will increase your power to new heights, one that hasn't been seen since the Dawn of the First Mankind." He grinned as he held it towards her while she looked unsure.

"You can choose to either accept this power or don't. But I must remind you that you have already failed Salem once before. Failure again will only ensure your ultimate demise." He held out the power as he tempted her. "But with this, you will never fail her again…" she stared into the flames as he grinned.

"All you have to do is accept this power, and with it, you shall fulfil your destiny."

She looked hesitant at the man, unsure that this was part of Salem's will. But the power that was radiating off him, the call to her destiny was too tempting to ignore. She had failed Salem once before if she failed again there was no telling what she would do to her. She had no other choice…

"I…I accept."

Noctis grinned as she grasped her hand in his hand and immediately, she felt a surge of both power and pain. She attempted to scream but a black hand covered her mouth and held her silent.

She tried to escape, but more hands held her down and his grip held her tight, as she stared up at the man who began to chuckle.

"Shhh~ it's too late now. Your body and soul belong to me now. You know, you need to stop trusting those that offer you power…"

The man pulled off his mask as she stared at his still forming face, with the lower have made of flesh and the upper half nothing more than a skull with glowing red eyes.

"It's going to get you killed one of these days. Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

He grinned and laughed as she continued to silently scream in agony as her mind was slowly consumed by the darkness. The mark on her back twisting and reshaping itself from a hollow heart to the draconic Symbol of the Grimm King. Until finally she screamed no more and collapsed upon the floor.

The Grimm King smiled before he sunk into the floor and disappeared like Shadows in the light.

The door swung open as Emerald and Mercury came bargaining into the room. "Cinder!? Cinder!?" Emerald called out before spotting her idol on the floor. "Cinder!" she rushed to her side as she helped her up. "Cinder are you alright!? What happened!?"

Cinder placed a hand on her shoulder, while she kept her face covered by her hair. "I'm fine, I'm fine…just a little scratch, I'll be fine." She rubbed her eyes as Emerald sighed in relief.

"So, what now? Do we abort this mission?" Mercury asked. "They have to know something happened at the tower and they'll be more than likely to find out who we are."

"No, we stick to the plan. We just have to play it more carefully. The masked man and woman may be a problem. But now…" She looked down at her hand as she ignited her palm with black fire. Something that caused the other two to back up. "They won't be able to stand against me."

"C-Cinder…what the hell is that?" Emerald asked as Cinder finally looked up and smiled with red glowing eyes.

"The Future, Emerald…the Future."

Beacon Hall

Jaune threw the last of his gear into the drop off as he pulled his shirt and jacket back on while making his way back to the dance. He swiftly grabbed two cups from the table and made it back to the table. "Hey, sorry. There was a huge line at the table." He handed Pyrrha a cup who nodded.

"How did it go?"

"It was a bit of a fight, but I managed to get what I wanted." He spoke cryptically to her as she nodded in understanding. "Now, we can just sit here and enjoy the dance." She smiled as he held his cup to her. He looked over to the DJ and narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"Which might be a problem, because it looks like Nora is threatening the DJ?" she looked over as Nora held a breadstick to the man that was looking nervous, while Ren tried to hold her back.

"Oh, right. Do you remember how last time we did that group dance? Well, the song came on, and Nora wanted us to do our dance. But you had to…get our drinks, and Nora has been threating the DJ to play the song again." She chuckled a little nervously while Jaune just shook his head.

"That sounds like Nora, glad some things never change." He looked over to her as he held his cup to her.

"To the Future." She smiled back.

"To the Future."

They touched the cups together as they stared out at the dancing crowd. Both of them knew that it wasn't going to last and that in a short time, come two days from now, the breach would set off a chain of events that would begin the end. But for now, they had this moment.

They had each other.

"Come on you two! I got the DJ to play it again! Team JNPR is doing this!"

"Please do what she says!" the DJ begged as he put the song back on. The two laughed at each other before getting up and doing their signature group dance, a cheer around them as they danced the night away.

The Grimm King watched from the window as he smiled at his eternal rival before looking at the yellow flower in his hand. "Be ready, old friend." He shifted into mist as he vanished into the night, leaving a small daffodil in his place.

"Tomorrow, a new Future begins."

Omake: She's a Maniac

"Say Pyrrha," Jaune asked as they sat together at the tables.

"Yes Jaune?" she looked over to her boyfriend as they relaxed from the sudden group dance that Nora forced them to do. Again.

"I noticed that your dancing skills have gotten better than last time. During Rehearsal you didn't miss a bit and Ren was proud of you. How did you improve your skills?"

"…Uh~" her mind flashed back to her home in Argus.

Argus Dance Studio – A few years ago

Pyrrha dressed in a leotard, wrapped bandages around her foot as she pulled her leg warmers over her legs. She stretched her body, limbering herself up before she placed a song of her mothers into what looked like an old boombox as a song began to play out.

"~Just a steel town girl on a Saturday night. Looking for the fight of her life in the real-time world. No one sees her at all they all say she's crazy~"

She began to run on the spot as the rhythm started to pump herself up. She then began to dance around the studio as she expertly moved across the floor.

"~Locking rhythm to the beat of her heart. Changing movement into light. She has danced into the danger zone when the dancer becomes the dance~"

She placed herself near the bars as she flexed and stretched herself across them, moving in a beautiful rhythm, before leaning back over them and continuing to dance.

"It can cut you like a knife if the fight becomes the fire. On the wire between will and what will be! ~"

She danced and danced until sweat was rolling off her body, her hair becoming mattered and wild as she continued to dance.

"~She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know) And she's dancing like she's never danced before. She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know) And she's dancing like she's never danced before~"

Her families pet dog, Steel, watching her from the across the room as she danced all about the place.

"~She's a maniac, maniac at the show, and she's dancing like she's never danced before. She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know). And she's dancing like she's never danced before! ~"

She worked tirelessly for days on end as she balanced her gladiatorial life, her new social life and her part-time job at the steel mill to help her father and mother.

"~On the ice blue line of insanity is a place most never see. It's a hard-won place of mystery, touch it but can't hold it. You work all your life, for that moment in time. It could come or pass you by it's a push shove world. But there's always a chance if the hunger stays the night! ~"

Pyrrha stared at herself in the dance room mirrors as she twirled and danced to her heart's content, determined to get the skills right, with little to no imperfections.

"~There's a cold kinetic heat. Struggling stretching for the peak. Never stopping with her head against the wind~"

Pyrrha continued to dance as she worked tirelessly and endlessly to perfect her dancing skills. No more would she be criticised by her dance expert of a teammate. No more would she fail a simple kick-step, kick-step body roll.

"~She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know). And she's dancing like she's never danced before. She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know). And she's dancing like she's never danced before!"

She danced and danced until her feet could take no more and continued to dance on.

"~ It can cut you like a knife if the fight becomes the fire, on the wire between will and what will be. She's a maniac, maniac on the floor (I sure know)
And she's dancing like she's never danced before! ~"

She landed in a chair as she pulled a chain and a huge bucket of water fell from the ceiling and doused her. She breathed out a breath of relief as she perfected her dancing skills.

Present

Pyrrha stared at her boyfriend before looking away with a small blush. "Oh, you know, I took a few dance lessons. That's all." She sipped her drink as Jaune looked at the girl in confusion. Thought somehow an image of Pyrrha in a dance leotard popped into his head, causing him to blush as well.

And Scene. Sorry, sorry for the huge wait. But I've been working on Legend and a few others that I have in mind as well as balancing work life and trying to get my sleep pattern in order. Thank you all for your continued patience and I promise to continue writing the stores you love.

I got reinspired by Noble4259's Arc's Across Dimensions story to get me back into the swing of Restart. And yes, it means I am working on some of my older Fan-Fictions, like Knight and Ascension, with a possible separate reboot of it.

Also, tell me what you think of the Omake? I just couldn't get it out of my head, and I thought it was hilarious. Now, what will happen next time? Find out in…

Chapter XVI: The Breach Part I